March 24, 2012
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - The Penn State men's swimming team finished one of the best performances in school history at the NCAA Championships on Saturday. PSU didn't qualify any swimmers into tonight's finals, but will leave suburban Seattle-Tacoma with two All-America relays and Nate Savoy (Reading, Pa.) as an All-America. Scott Marino (Scotch Plains, N.J.) also earned honorable mention All-America honors.
Savoy kicked off Saturday's action in the 200 backstroke, trying to replicate his championship finals appearance in the 100 back the night before. He ultimately finished 25th with a 1:44.11 in the event. Savoy finished his first NCAA Championships as a three-time All-American.
Shane Austin (Kennett Square, Pa.) finished 46th in the 100 freestyle with a 44.41 swim. Austin anchored both medley relays earlier this weekend. Mitch Scherer (Pottstown, Pa.) was 26th in the 200 breast (1:58.33) after teaming up with Savoy and Austin on the earlier relays.
Sophomore Matt Salig (Downingtown, Pa.) finished 19th in the 200 butterfly, just a half-second from qualifying for one of the finals tonight, touching the wall in 1:45.18. Penn State capped its time in Federal Way with a 2:56.65 swim in the 400 freestyle relay with a season best time. Austin led off in 44.66 before Sean Grier (Hummelstown, Pa.), Brian Alden (Lansdale, Pa.) and Marino finished off the relay. Grier had a leg of 43.58, Alden a 43.78 and Marino touched in 44.63.
--NITTANY LIONS--